Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

The Return Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 31, 2025

“The Return” is a retelling of Homer’s “Odyssey,” only the “epic poem” has been whittled down to a more manageable size by the production, which isn’t out to fully explore the fantastical elements of the story. Instead, writers John Collee, Edward Bond, and Uberto Pasolini (who also directs) search for a character-based understanding of Odysseus and his special battle against the memories of war and the ache of reunion. It’s a prime opportunity to do something deep with personality, getting into the dark corners of the players as they figure out an extended game of power, but Pasolini isn’t too concerned with summoning thunder for the endeavor. “The Return” doesn’t take advantage of the cast or the emotional journey, remaining largely motionless for a great deal of the run time. The helmer mistakes stillness for profundity, dialing down pacing to a crawl, which doesn’t help the feature reach the few moments of fury it cares to deliver along the way.

Troy has fallen, and Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes) has disappeared. Many assume the King of Ithaca is dead, but Queen Penelope (Juliette Binoche) refuses to believe it, unwilling to accept another man in life beyond her son, Telemachus (Charlie Plummer). Decades have passed, and rough men have collected in the area, with many looking to marry Penelope and take her fortune. Antinous (Marwan Kenzari) hopes to lead the pack, interested in taking a wife, but the Queen refuses to submit, creating rising tension. One day, Odysseus washes up on the shore. He’s battered and exhausted, not sure of his surroundings, and he finds help from some farmers, trying to regain his strength. Realizing what’s happening, Odysseus returns to the royal palace, where he’s branded as a lowly beggar, allowing him to witness all that’s changed. Slowly, others realize who he really is, putting pressure on the King to process what he’s been through over the last two decades of his absence.

“The Return” maintains an earthy quality, eschewing a major production push to keep things quiet around Greek locations. There’s unrest, but it doesn’t register with much emphasis, mostly contained to a few “scoundrels” trying to understand why Penelope has refused a new marriage, pushing locals around as tempers rise. Also greatly bothered by it all is Telemachus, who doesn’t understand his mother’s motivations, watching as the island collects terrible people demanding an opportunity to follow a tradition Penelope understandably refuses. Pasolini follows activity around the sunbaked area, which, in this film, is populated with shirtless and nude men, adding just a touch of sensuality to the effort, joined by Penelope’s barely concealed intimacy needs, as she’s surrounded by physical couplings.

Odysseus emerges from the water, barely alive as he tries to make his way inland, rescued by the last kind people on Ithaca. He’s nursed back to health and informed where he is, commencing an internal journey for the character, who’s left to process so much now that he’s returned to his kingdom. The picture largely rests in this hazy space of memory, as Odysseus has seen too much since the fall of Troy, remaining the only survivor of the war, allowing all his men to perish in combat. He gradually comes around to sharing this part of his life, but Pasolini prefers to keep Fiennes in a fog, as most of the performance is made up of thousand-yard stares, which fail to communicate everything going on inside the withered man. “The Return” adds some physical conflict here and there to keep the endeavor active, but the helmer isn’t particularly strong with action, which often resembles the kind of violence found in a theatrical production.

The Return Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation deals with the mostly unclothed characters of "The Return." Skin tones are strong here, as tanned bodies are everywhere, along with the paler looks of characters who remain out of the island sun. Colors emerge with strength, exploring the setting and its abundant greenery, also taking in the earthiness of living spaces and orangey fire-lit settings. Palace tours favor a cooler stone appearance. Detail is sustained throughout the viewing experience, exploring ample skin particulars, especially with Odysseus, who's bruised and battered during the journey. Physical statures on the supporting cast are open for inspection, and what little costuming is here is fibrous. Exteriors maintain depth during island events, and interiors secure dimension. Delineation occasionally struggles with brief solidification. Compression isn't strong at times, with banding periodically detected.

The Return Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix deals with extensive character interactions, maintaining the stillness of "The Return." Dialogue exchanges are distinct, tracking performance choices and softer dramatic discussions. Scoring supports with sharp instrumentation, bringing clarity and emphasis to orchestral activity. Musical moods move to the surrounds at times for a more immersive presence. Atmospherics occasionally go circular as well, with weather activity and group gatherings most commanding. Low-end is a rare event on the track, only perking up with harder hits of violence and thunderstorms. Sound effects are distinct.

The Return Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this release.

The Return Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Return" slowly, very slowly, makes its way to a climax. Little moments of recognition are interesting, watching Odysseus's mother spot a childhood scar on his leg while washing his feet. The feature could use a lot more emotionally charged moments like it, but Pasolini plays most of the film on mute, which is difficult to appreciate. There are archer challenges and bloody violence in the last act, but it's all flatly staged, and while Fiennes is a sharp actor, one of the best working today, he can't magically give the material an abyssal soul. There's a potentially engrossing study of survivor's guilt to be had here, but "The Return" doesn't run after it, electing to simmer in sorrow to such a degree, it nearly stops in full.